With his party having a sound base in the State, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday visited Punjab and paid obeisance at the Golden Temple, saying “no one could live in peace after insulting holy scriptures”.
Stating that he prayed for the “return of peace” in Punjab, which is witnessing protests in some parts over the desecration of the Sikhs’ holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, Kejriwal said “I also appeal to the people of Punjab to maintain peace.”
Kejriwal was visiting Punjab to meet the families of the two youths killed in police firing while protesting against the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib in Faridkot district.
Terming the desecration of the holy book as “painful”, the chief minister told reporters that it was a “wilful act” to disturb peace in Punjab. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader condemned the police action, saying it was wrong to use force against people who were protesting peacefully against acts of sacrilege.
He said it was the responsibility of the Punjab Government to arrest the real culprits behind the incidents of desecration, saying no innocent person should be slapped with “false cases”.
“Golden Temple has great spiritual power and I prayed before the almighty for early peace and normalcy to get rid of current turmoil in Punjab,” he said, after paying obeisance at the Sikh shrine.
Having paid obeisance at the Sanctum Sanctorum of the Golden Temple, he also paid obeisance in front of the Akal Takht (the highest Sikh Temporal Seat). Kejriwal was honoured with a Siropa (robe of honour) and presented with a set of Sikh religious books.
later, he visited Kotkapura in Faridkot to meet the families of the two people killed in police firing. Police have so far arrested six people, mostly working in Sikh shrines, in connection with the sacrilege incidents.
He blamed Punjab Police over the death of two Sikhs in police firing during anti-desecration protests at Faridkot and asked the SAD-BJP Government to restore peace in the State.
Kejriwal, who is on his first visit to Punjab since becoming the Chief Minister in February met the families of the two youths - Gurjit Singh (26) of Sarawan village and Krishan Singh (43) of Behbal Khurd village - and assured the all possible help.
He later told reporters that Gurjit was killed in police firing when he went to serve langar (a communal meal) to about 300 peaceful protesters. “As per rules, police fire warning shots in air and then into the ground...it was completely wrong,” he said.
Keriwal demanded immediate arrest of those behind the sacrilege and strict action against policemen who opened fire on the protesters and their seniors who ordered firing.
“We condemn the incident of sacrilege. Punjab is burning and we appeal to the state government to arrest those behind the incident. I demand that a copy of the FIR be given to Gurjit’s family so that they could be aware of its contents,” the Delhi Chief Minister said.
Gurjit and Krishan were part of the protests over the desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib and were killed in police firing on October 14. The incident provoked widespread criticism of the state government and Punjab Police.
In the wake of the incident, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal put Moga SSP Charanjit Sharma under suspension for “lapses” in the line of duty.
Under pressure from several quarters, Punjab Police on Wednesday registered a case under various sections of the IPC in connection with the matter. It is
being probed by a team led by ADGP Crime cum Director of Bureau of Investigation, Punjab, I P S Sahota.
Punjab police have alleged a “foreign hand” behind the incidents of sacrilege even as the Centre has sought a report from the Punjab government on the matter.
Kejriwal’s visit to Punjab assumes significance as the AAP is eying the 2017 assembly polls and has re-structured its unit in the state. The AAP won four seats in the 2014 lok Sabha elections. It recently suspended two of the MPs for “anti-party” activities.